Trump hints at sending 15,000 troops to border

November 2, 2018251 Views

WASHINGTON (Web Desk) Presi­dent Donald Trump says the number of military troops deployed to the US-Mexican border could reach 15,000 roughly double the number the Pentagon said it currently plans for a mission whose dimensions are shifting daily.

The Pentagon says “more than 7,000” troops were be­­ing sent to the southwest bor­­­der to support the Cus­toms and Border Protection agents. Officials said that number could reach a maximum of about 8,000 under present plans.

The troop numbers have been changing at a dizzying pace, with Trump drawing a hard line on immigration in the lead-up to the midterm elections.

Just last week officials were indicating that about 800 to 1,000 might be sent. On Monday, officials annou­nced that about 5,200 were being deployed. The next day, the Air Force general running the operation said more than the initially an­­n­ounced total were going, and he pointedly rejected a news report that it could reach 14,000, saying that was “not consistent with what’s actually being planned.”

Gen Terrence O’Shaughnessy, the commander of US North­ern Command, told reporters the number would exceed the initial contingent of 5,200, but he offered no estimate of the eventual total.

Just 24 hours later, Trump thrust new uncertainty into the picture, catching the Pentagon by surprise.

With his eyes squarely on Tuesday’s contests, Trump has rushed a series of immigration declarations, promises and actions as he tries to mobilise supporters to retain Republican control of Congress. His own Republican campaign in 2016 concentrated on border fears, and that’s his focus in the final week of the midterm fight.